AFC RB Situations

As promised, here are the RB situations in the AFC, starting with those rascally Raiders.

Team	Workhorse/ Starter/ Committee	3rd Down Back	Goal Line Back	Handcuff	Notes
OAK	Michael Bush / Darren McFadden	Darren McFadden	Michael Bush		Just like the NYG situation, most experts are hating on the big-name guy, and I'm paradoxically bucking the trend by picking the trendy guy. Neither has impressed much in preseason, but I like McFadden's potential more.
DEN	Knowshon Moreno	Correll Buckhalter	Knowshon Moreno		Both backs are injured, but Moreno remains a solid RB2 in the 3rd round. I don't expect fireworks, especially with no complimentary passing game, but there should be plenty of carries.
KC	Jamaal Charles	Jamaal Charles	Thomas Jones		Of course, Jones will not just come in at the goal line. He'll see some action. But Charles has outplayed Jones by a significant margin. Coach Haley actually lists Jones as the #1, but Charles is too good to sit.
SD	Ryan Mathews	Ryan Mathews / Darren Sproles	Ryan Mathews / Mike Tolbert		Sproles is a lightening fast midget, but Mathews truly looks to be an every down back. I didn't feel uncomfortable placing this rookie in my top 10 RBs... until this past weekend.
HOU	Arian Foster	Steve Slaton	Arian Foster	Jeremiah Johnson	Foster is no longer a sleeper. He's wide awake and should be taken in the 4th round. Slaton won't take too many carries away. If Foster gets hurt, Johnson will fill his role and Slaton will continue being the 3rd down guy. You know Johnson's one of my deep sleepers.
IND	Joseph Addai	Donald Brown	Joseph Addai		Last year, many analysts wrote off Addai and predicted Brown would overtake him or replace him once he got injured. Only problem was that Addai never went away. They may work Brown in a little more this year, but Addai is young, solid, and not going anywhere.
JAX	Maurice Jones-Drew	Maurice Jones-Drew	Maurice Jones-Drew	Rashad Jennings	One of the few true workhorses, MJD aka Pocket Hercules is a solid pick with no competition to worry about. I'm only a tiny bit worried about the meniscus injury. Maybe drop him to 5th overall.
TEN	Chris Johnson	Chris Johnson	Chris Johnson	Javon Ringer	I think this Chris Johnson kid might have a decent fantasy year!
NYJ	Shonn Greene	LaDainian Tomlinson	Shonn Greene / LaDainian Tomlinson		Coach Ryan said Greene will be the main workhorse, but LT is too good to sit, and has impressed in preseason action. Plus, Greene's running style leaves him very susceptible to injury. I still like Greene in the 2nd round.
NE	Laurence Maroney / Sammy Morris / Fred Taylor / Kevin Faulk / BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Kevin Faulk	Fred Taylor		This is the biggest backfield mystery in the NFL. Fred Taylor has looked good and is probably the #1 at this point. I think I interviewed at the law firm, BenJarvus Green-Ellis during OCI this week! The whole situation is Faulked up.
MIA	Ronnie Brown / Ricky Williams	Ricky Williams	Ronnie Brown		This could be a truly even timeshare. You've got to like Brown's talent a little more though, especially with Williams' age (33).
BUF	Fred Jackson / C.J. Spiller	C.J. Spiller	Fred Jackson	Marshawn Lynch	This is another confusing situation. Unlike Miami, I predict this timeshare will not remain even for long as only one will emerge. The question is, who? Spiller is more exciting, but FJax is really good, and he doesn't get enough credit. I like Spiller a little more, but FJax ain't going anywhere soon. Lynch will only have value if one or both of the starters gets injured.
PIT	Rashard Mendenhall	Rashard Mendenhall / Mewelde Moore	Rashard Mendenhall / Jonathan Dwyer / Isaac Redman	Isaac Redman	Despite all the names on this row, I'll still call Mendenhall a workhorse. Moore is a good pass-catcher, and Redman and Dwyer are good short yardage backs. But Mendenhall should be an every down back, and is definitely a top 10 RB.
BAL	Ray Rice	Ray Rice	Willis McGahee / Ray Rice / LeRon McClain	Willis McGahee	Ray Rice is electric and so fun to watch as an owner. There are rumors that McGahee might be traded before the season, but I'll believe it when I see it. With MJD's injury, I'll take Rice as the #3 pick, especially in PPR leagues.
CLE	Jerome Harrison / Montario Hardesty	Jerome Harrison	Jerome Harrison / Montario Hardesty	James Davis	Like Buffalo, I think one back will actually emerge out of this duo. Hardesty's momentum was slowed by an injury but he should get action this week. You've got to take Harrison first (remember that little 286 yard, 3 TD game last year?). But some sites still predict Hardesty to become the guy in a few weeks. I've taken them both together in a few drafts.
CIN	Cedric Benson	Brian Leonard	Cedric Benson / Bernard Scott	Bernard Scott	I struggled with whether to call Benson a workhorse or a starter. I think Scott and Leonard will take away carries, but Benson got 301 carries last year, so he can afford to lose some and still have close to the most carries of anyone in the league. Scott is talented, but don't take this handcuff before other starters or guys in committees.

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